A wave generator pool that may be used for surfing, which has reefs configured to provide a variety of novel wave shapes. Reefs may have multiple sections with varying angles, causing the shape or direction of the wave to change as a surfer rides the wave. One or more embodiments of the pool may have two basins that share a common wave generator, resulting in substantial energy savings. An illustrative dual basin pool may have an intermediate basin on one side and a beginner basin on the other. The intermediate basin may have an easy takeoff reef section with a reef angle between 65 and 85 degrees. The beginner basin may have several isolated takeoff reef sections where a corresponding number of surfers can await a wave. Reefs may be constructed and reconfigured using a modular reef structure that avoids the months of downtime associated with rebuilding fixed reefs.
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1. A wave generator pool with varying reef angles, comprising:
one or more basins configured to contain water;
one or more moveable paddles configured to be at least partially submerged in said water, wherein said one or more moveable paddles are associated with a longitudinal axis that lies in a horizontal plane;
one or more actuators coupled to said one or more moveable paddles and configured to move said one or more moveable paddles to generate a wave in each basin of said one or more basins, wherein said wave travels along a wave propagation axis; and
a reef coupled to or part of a portion of a floor of said each basin, wherein
said reef is configured to generate a change in said wave when said wave reaches said reef;
said reef comprises one or more reef sections;
each reef section of said one or more reef sections comprises a wave-facing surface in contact with said water; and
each point of said wave-facing surface is associated with
a tangent plane to said wave-facing surface at said each point;
a reef angle between
a line of intersection between said tangent plane and said horizontal plane; and
said longitudinal axis;
a reef incline angle between
said tangent plane; and
said horizontal plane;
wherein
said reef angle is between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, inclusive; and
said reef incline angle is between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, inclusive;
wherein
a first basin of said one or more basins is associated with a first reef coupled to or part of a portion of the floor of said first basin;
said first reef comprises a first plurality of reef sections;
said first plurality of reef sections comprises a first reef section and a second reef section, wherein said first reef section is closer to said one or more moveable paddles than said second reef section;
said first reef section comprises a first point with an associated first reef angle and an associated first reef incline angle;
said second reef section comprises a second point with an associated second reef angle and an associated second reef incline angle;
said first reef angle is between 0 degrees and 20 degrees, inclusive; and,
said second reef angle is between 65 degrees and 85 degrees, inclusive.
2. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
3. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
4. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
5. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
6. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
said first plurality of reef sections further comprises one or more subsequent sections, each subsequent section of said one or more subsequent sections comprising an associated subsequent section point with an associated subsequent section reef angle and an associated subsequent section reef incline angle;
said second reef section is closer to said one or more moveable paddles than said each subsequent section; and,
an average subsequent section reef angle across said one or more subsequent sections is between 50 degrees and 65 degrees, inclusive.
7. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
said first reef incline angle is between 10 degrees and 20 degrees;
said second reef incline angle is between 3 degrees and 15 degrees; and,
an average subsequent section reef incline angle across said one or more subsequent sections is between 3 degrees and 10 degrees, inclusive.
8. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
said one or more basins comprise
said first basin on a first side of said one or more moveable paddles;
a second basin on a second side of said one or more moveable paddles, wherein said second basin is associated with a second reef coupled to or part of a portion of the floor of said second basin;
said one or more actuators are further configured to move said one or more moveable paddles in both directions along said wave propagation axis to generate a first wave that travels into said first basin and a second wave that travels into said second basin.
9. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
10. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
said second reef comprises a second plurality of reef sections;
said second plurality of reef sections comprises
a plurality of takeoff sections that are
substantially a same shape;
substantially equidistant from said one or more moveable paddles; and
isolated from each other.
11. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
the reef angle associated with a point of the wave-facing surface of each takeoff section of said plurality of takeoff sections is 0 degrees.
12. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
the reef incline angle associated with said point of the wave-facing surface of said each takeoff section of said plurality of takeoff sections is between 5 degrees and 20 degrees, inclusive.
13. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
said second plurality of reef sections further comprises an additional reef section that is further from said one or more moveable paddles than said each takeoff section;
the reef angle associated with a point of the wave-facing surface of said additional reef section is 0 degrees; and,
the reef incline angle associated with said point of the wave-facing surface of said additional reef section is between 0 and 10 degrees, inclusive.
14. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
one or more of said one or more reef sections associated with at least one basin of said one or more basins comprises
a frame detachably coupled to said floor of said at least one basin; and,
a plurality of tiles detachably coupled to said frame.
15. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
said frame is detachably coupled to one or more channels integrated into or coupled to said floor of said at least one basin.
16. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
each tile of said plurality of tiles comprises one or more padding elements comprising rubber or foam.
17. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
said frame comprises one or more slots;
said each tile further comprises a bottom layer comprising one or more tabs configured to slide into a corresponding slot of said one or more slots and detachably lock in place.
18. The wave generator pool with varying reef angles of
said at least one basin of said one or more basins comprises all of said one or more basins; and,
said one or more of said one or more reef sections comprises all of said one or more reef sections.
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One or more embodiments of the invention are related to the field of facilities and equipment for water sports, such as surfing. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable a wave generator pool with varying reef angles.
Wave generator pools are known in the art, and are commonly used for surfing. Typical wave pools have a wave generator that makes waves, and some type of underwater reef structure that causes the waves to break. Although these existing pools generate waves that can be used for surfing, the types of waves that are generated are limited. For example, many pools use reefs with relatively small “reef angles” (defined below in the specification), and reef angles vary little or not at all along the reef. As a result, the wave quality of the waves generated in these pools is not ideal, particularly for intermediate and advanced surfers. In addition, reefs are typically constructed along with the basin as permanent structures. It is therefore prohibitively expensive and time-consuming to modify reef structures to provide different wave experiences at different times.
An illustrative existing wave pool design is described in U.S. Utility Pat. No. 10,364,584, “Wave generator system with a lateral moving wave barrier for the generation of waves in two areas of water.” This patent teaches reef angles of at most 20 degrees, with reefs that are structures integrated into the pool floor. The type of waves generated and the ability to modify waves are therefore limited in this type of design.
For at least the limitations described above there is a need for a wave generator pool with varying reef angles.
One or more embodiments described in the specification are related to a wave generator pool with varying reef angles. Embodiments of the invention may be used for example for surfing or other water activities. Embodiments may have reefs with shapes and structures that are unknown in the art.
One or more embodiments of the invention include one or more basins that are configured to contain water or a similar liquid. A wave generation mechanism, which may be shared across multiple basins in one or more embodiments, may have one or more moveable paddles configured to be at least partially submerged in water, and one or more actuators that move the paddles to generate a wave in each basin. The pool may have a horizontal plane, and a longitudinal axis associated with the paddles that lies in the horizontal plane. Waves may travel along a wave propagation axis. Each basin may have a reef coupled to, or which is part of a portion of the basin floor, which generates a change in the wave when water reaches the reef. The reef may have one or more reef sections, each with a wave-facing surface in contact with the water. At each point of this wave facing surface there is a tangent plane to the surface. The reef angle associated with each point is the angle between the line of intersection between the tangent plane and the horizontal plane, and the longitudinal axis. The reef incline angle is the angle between the tangent plane and the horizontal plane. Reef angles and reef incline angles are between 0 and 90 degrees, inclusive.
In one or more embodiments, there may be a first basin with an associated first reef. This first reef may have multiple reef sections, including (but not limited to) a first section closest to the paddles, and a second section further from the paddles. The first section may have a first reef angle and a first reef incline angle associated with a point on the wave-facing surface of the first section, and the second section may have a second reef angle and a second reef incline angle associated with a point on the wave-facing surface of the second section.
In one or more embodiments, the first reef angle may be between 0 and 20 degrees, inclusive, and the second reef may be between 65 and 85 degrees, inclusive.
In one or more embodiments the first reef incline angle may be between 10 and 20 degrees, inclusive, and the second reef incline angle may be between 3 degrees and 15 degrees, inclusive.
In one or more embodiments, the second reef angle may be between 75 and 80 degrees, inclusive. For example, it may be 78 degrees.
In one or more embodiments, the first reef angle may be 0 degrees.
In one or more embodiments, the first reef may have one or more subsequent reef sections further from the paddles than the second reef section, and the average reef angle across these subsequent sections may be between 50 and 65 degrees, inclusive. In one or more embodiments the average reef incline angle across these subsequent sections may be between 3 degrees and 10 degrees, inclusive.
One or more embodiments may have two basins on either side of the paddles. The actuators may move the paddles in both directions along the wave propagation axis to generate waves in both basins.
In one or more embodiments with two basins, the shape of the reef in the first basin may be different from the shape of the reef in the second basin.
In one or more embodiments, the reef of the second basin may have multiple reef sections that include multiple takeoff reef sections. These takeoff sections may be substantially the same shape, substantially equidistant from the paddles, and isolated from each other and from other reef sections. The reef angle associated with each takeoff section may be for example 0 degrees, and the reef incline angle may be between 5 and 20 degrees, inclusive. There may be an additional reef section further from the paddles than the takeoff sections. This additional reef section may have a reef angle of 0 degrees and a reef incline angle between 0 and 10 degrees, inclusive.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, one or more reef sections associated with at least one basin may have a frame that is detachably coupled to the basin floor, and multiple tiles detachably coupled to the frame. The frame may be detachably coupled to one or more channels integrated into or coupled to the basin floor. Each tile may have one or more padding elements that have rubber or foam. The frame may have one or more slots, and the tiles may have a bottom layer with tabs that slide into the slots and detachably lock into place. In one or more embodiments, all of the reef sections of all of the basins may be made of these frames and tiles.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:
A wave generator pool with varying reef angles will now be described. In the following exemplary description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to an artisan of ordinary skill that the present invention may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein. In other instances, specific features, quantities, or measurements well known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. Readers should note that although examples of the invention are set forth herein, the claims, and the full scope of any equivalents, are what define the metes and bounds of the invention.
For reference in the remainder of this application,
Illustrative wave pool 100 has a reef 104 that is partially or fully submerged in water 101. The shape of the reef affects the type of waves created in the wave pool. As described below, the inventors have experimented with many potential reef shapes, and have discovered specific reef shapes unknown in the art that create desirable types of waves. In some situations the combinations of particular paddle motions and particular reef shapes contribute to desirable wave formation. In many cases the inventors have discovered that reefs with different sections that have varying angles for the reef faces are desirable; examples are illustrated below.
The reefs of basins 410 and 420 each consist of two or more sections. (More generally embodiments of the invention may have any number of reef sections associated with any basin, including for example, one section, two sections, three sections, or more than three sections.) Each section may have an associated reef face, which is the wave-facing surface that is in contact with the water. This surface may in general be of any shape; the reef sections shown in
In basin 410, the reef has five sections with faces 412, 413, 414, 415, and 416. The basin floor 411 is level. The top 418 of the reef extends to the beach 419. In basin 420, the reef has four sections with faces 422, 423, 424, and 425. The basin floor 421 is level. The top 428 of the reef extends to the beach 429. The orientation of the reef sections in basin 410 is mirrored compared to that of basin 420. Therefore, waves in basin 410 have a pocket that moves from right to left (from the perspective of the surfer), while waves in basin 420 have a pocket that moves from left to right. These mirrored wave orientations provide more variety for surfers.
These configurations are illustrative; one or more embodiments may use any desired reef configuration for any basin. For a dual basin, the two reefs associated with the two basins may be identical, or different as in
In one or more embodiments, there may be one or more additional reef sections that are further from the paddles than the first two reef sections. The average reef angle across these subsequent sections may be for example between 50 degrees and 65 degrees, inclusive. In the illustrative basin 420, the third reef section 424 has a reef angle 514 of 55 degrees, which is the angle between segment 523 parallel to longitudinal axis 132 and the base of the reef face 524. More advanced surfers may prefer a shallower reef angle closer to 50 degrees, while beginners may prefer a larger reef angle of 65 degrees. A reef angle between these values may therefore accommodate a wide variety of surfers.
In one or more embodiments, one or more of the basins may have one or more reef sections with curved reef faces, where angles may vary continuously throughout a portion of the face.
A benefit of using reef sections with varying reef angles is that the speed of the wave “pocket” changes as it encounters reefs sections with different angles. The swell speed in the direction of wave propagation is unchanged, but the “pocket” where it is best to surf changes speed. More advanced surfers often desire a faster moving pocket. Varying reef angles allow for the pocket speed to change, allowing for a variety of surfing maneuvers. For example, some maneuvers, such as a cutback, are best done at low pocket speeds; other maneuvers like floaters are best done at high pocket speeds.
The inventors have experimented with and simulated a large number of reef angles and reef incline angles to find combinations that generate desirable waves.
Basin 420 may be an “intermediate level” basin, with waves that are optimized for intermediate (or advanced) surfers. One or more embodiments of the invention may have one or more “beginner level” basins that are optimized for beginning or lower skilled or inexperienced surfers. Wave pools with multiple basins may for example combine an intermediate basin and a beginner basin. This combination is illustrated in
Illustrative specifications for an embodiment of dual basin wave pool 900 may be as follows: The width of the pool at the wave generators may be 20 meters, and the width of the beach areas may be 40 meters. The total length of both basins (excluding the beach areas) may be 160 meters. The total water volume contained in both basins may be 1.5 million gallons. Beginner basin 901 may generate 120 waves per hour, with a capacity of 3 to 4 riders per wave. The ride time of each wave may be 10 seconds. Intermediate basin 420 may generate 200 waves per hour, with 1 rider per wave, and a ride time for each wave of 8 seconds. These specifications are illustrative and one or more embodiments may have different specifications.
Another innovation of one or more embodiments of the invention is the use of a modular reef system that allows reefs to be rapidly constructed, moved, and reconfigured. Existing wave pools use permanent reefs, constructed for example out of concrete, to create a specific contour of the bottom of the pool. Changing this type of permanent reef is a long and expensive process: the pool must be drained, the existing concrete reef must be demolished, a new concrete floor must be rebuilt, and then the pool must be refilled. The average downtime for such a change is 2 to 5 months, so in addition to the considerable construction costs, the wave pool earns no revenue during this time. As a result, changes to reef structures are rarely made, and existing pools are therefore unable to offer wave variety.
The inventors have developed a modular reef system that eliminates many of these disadvantages of permanent reefs. This modular system enables a wave pool operator to swap some modules to add new reef sections that produce specific wave features. The reef angle and reef incline angle can be changed for an entire reef, or just for selected sections, which allows an operator to fine tune the difficulty level of the wave. The reef configuration can be modified to offer opposite peel angles (for example to change a left breaking wave into a right breaking wave.) The width of tiles of the modular reef sections (described below) may be modified to allow for additional fine tuning of wave features. These soft tiles also provide additional user safety by providing protection against direct impacts with the reef, which is unknown in existing wave pools. All of these reef changes can be performed by draining the pool, moving or swapping reef modules, and then refilling the pool; the work can be completed in 2 to 3 days. This increased flexibility and much lower cost and downtime allows wave pool operators to reconfigure their pools as needed or desired to offer wave variety, to vary difficulty levels, and to configure a pool for a special event such as a tournament.
In one or more embodiments, the modular reef sections may be used for all reef sections of all basins, or for selected basins or selected reef sections. One or more embodiments may use a combination of modular reef sections and permanent or semi-permanent reef sections.
The reef frame 1302 may have slots such as slot 1308 that serve as attachment points for the tiles.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.
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